‘The Threepenny Opera’ and the Continuing Relevance of Bertolt Brecht

November 16, 2017 by Tom Porter

Bowdoin students are bringing Bertolt Brecht’s classic 1920s musical The Threepenny Opera to Pickard Theater, November 16-18, 2017. Described as an opera “by and for beggars,” the show brings a sharp political perspective to the stage, as well as the classic sounds of 1920s Berlin dance bands and cabaret, courtesy of composer Kurt Weill.

Professor of Theater Davis Robinson, who is directing the show, said it explores “the ironies and hypocrisies of people claiming high moral values while doing horrible things on the side.” Today, he added, “seems like a good time to stage something Brechtian.”